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Living With Dead Bodies; Torajan Funerals
The dead are treated as a part of the family and kept at home for several weeks
Disclaimer — This story contains images that could be disturbing to watch.
The more you learn about death, the more mysterious it gets. Some of us look at it with grief and some with irrevocable acceptance. But what does it really have to mean for a person to just come and go like this — we might never know.
In about every culture, death holds a distinct voice. But the most distinct, I’d say, is how the Torajan people of Indonesia look at it. On the island of Sulawesi, Torajans live with the corpses of their loved ones and treat them like a part of the family.
Until the funeral is done, the deceased is considered sick (Toma Kula) and kept inside the home for several weeks. They are given food, water, and even cigarettes to smoke. The family members spend each day like a normal one, praying and talking with them. They do this because they believe that the spirit of the dead always remains around them and also craves ongoing care.
